How much is the train ticket from Chicago to Washington?

The cheapest train tickets from Chicago to Washington start at $106. The average price for this train route is around $274. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance to increase your chances of getting the lowest possible price.

How long is the train ride from Chicago to Washington?

The average train trip from Chicago to Washington takes 23h 49m and covers 959 km. The quickest train gets you there in 17h 25m and is operated by Amtrak .

Which train operators serve the Chicago to Washington route?

Several major train operators serve this route, with 3 trains available per day.

What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from Chicago to Washington?

The earliest train from Chicago to Washington departs at 5:55pm. The latest train departs at 9:30pm.

Train Chicago to Washington from $101 | Refundable Tickets

Next train departures

Next departures for Chicago to Washington on December 12
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	6:40pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	1:10pm	Union Station	CheapestFastest
Train	6:40pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	1:10pm	Union Station	No tags
Train	9:30pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	1d 2h	12:31am	Union Station	No tags
Train	9:30pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	1d 2h	12:31am	Union Station	No tags
Train	9:30pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	1d 2h	12:31am	Union Station	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to Washington on December 13
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	6:40pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	1:10pm	Union Station	CheapestFastest
Train	5:55pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 49m	6:44pm	Union Station	No tags
Train	5:55pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 49m	6:44pm	Union Station	No tags
Train	6:40pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	1:10pm	Union Station	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to Washington on December 14
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	Train	6:40pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	1:10pm	Union Station	CheapestFastest
	Train	6:40pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	1:10pm	Union Station	No tags
Amtrak + NextGen Acela	Train	9:30pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	1d	11:16pm	Union Station	No tags
Amtrak + NextGen Acela	Train	9:30pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	1d	11:16pm	Union Station	No tags
	Train	6:40pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 48m	7:28pm	Union Station	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to Washington on December 16
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	Train	6:40pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	1:10pm	Union Station	CheapestFastest
	Train	5:55pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 49m	6:44pm	Union Station	No tags
Amtrak + NextGen Acela	Train	9:30pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	1d	11:16pm	Union Station	No tags
	Train	6:40pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	1:10pm	Union Station	No tags
Amtrak + NextGen Acela	Train	9:30pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	1d	11:16pm	Union Station	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to Washington on December 18
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
	Train	5:55pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	23h 49m	6:44pm	Union Station	Cheapest
	Train	6:40pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	1:10pm	Union Station	Fastest
	Train	6:40pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	1:10pm	Union Station	No tags
Amtrak + NextGen Acela	Train	9:30pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	1d	11:16pm	Union Station	No tags
Amtrak + NextGen Acela	Train	9:30pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	1d	11:16pm	Union Station	No tags

Next departures for Chicago to Washington on December 19
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	6:40pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	1:10pm	Union Station	CheapestFastest
Train	6:40pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	17h 30m	1:10pm	Union Station	No tags
Train	9:30pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	1d 2h	12:31am	Union Station	No tags
Train	9:30pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	1d 2h	12:31am	Union Station	No tags
Train	9:30pm	Chicago (Union Station), IL	1d 2h	12:31am	Union Station	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 11:17 AM CST.

Compare 2 ways to go from Chicago to Washington

We recommend taking the bus

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as a good way to reach Washington. The journey takes about 20 hours 10 minutes, and with fares starting at just $88, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

36bus per day

20h 10mAverage Duration

953 kmDistance

24kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$88 - $532	Average Duration20h 10m	CO₂ emissions 24kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$106 - $3,973	Average Duration23h 49m	CO₂ emissions 87kg CO₂e

Where are the popular train stations and stops in Chicago and Washington, DC, US?

Chicago

A
Union Station
225 S Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606, USA

Washington, DC, US

A
Union Station
6 Union Station Dr NE, Washington, DC 20002, USA
Visit page

Train companies

Amtrak

4/55,639 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

According to customer feedback, Amtrak has been praised for its overall service quality. However, there have been concerns raised about significant delays causing inconvenience and stress. Some passengers also mentioned issues with the cafe's snack options not meeting expectations.

Amtrak Chicago Washington recent customer reviews

I'm not happy about the almost 2hours delay. It created unnecessary anxiety and led to stress. Will appreciate it if Amtrak us always on time as I experienced over 1hour delay on August 22nd from UTICA TO CHICAGO which is unnecessary.

Gafaru O.

August 31, 2023

The train was an hour late and the cafe lacked the one advertised snack that I could eat (vegetables with hummus) so I went hungry. They also served Lipton as if it was tea for people to drink. Otherwise, everything else was good.

Chip C.

December 27, 2022

US train and bus companies:Amtrak, Trenitalia, Renfe, VIA Rail Canada, Amtrak Acela, NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen, Iryo

Frequently asked questions about travelling from Chicago to Washington, DC, US by train

Please note that schedules, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or vary at the time of your trip.

How much is the train ticket from Chicago to Washington?
The cheapest train tickets from Chicago to Washington start at $106. The average price for this train route is around $274. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance to increase your chances of getting the lowest possible price.
How long is the train ride from Chicago to Washington?
The average train trip from Chicago to Washington takes 23h 49m and covers 959 km. The quickest train gets you there in 17h 25m and is operated by Amtrak.
Which train operators serve the Chicago to Washington route?
Several major train operators serve this route, with 3 trains available per day.
What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from Chicago to Washington?
The earliest train from Chicago to Washington departs at 5:55pm. The latest train departs at 9:30pm.

Find cheapest prices for trains

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

12-10

$248

12-11

$207

Today

$248

12-13

$207

12-14

$361

12-15

$118

12-16

$207

12-17

$143

The cheapest trip from Chicago to Washington, DC, US was searched and found on Dec 15, 2025 with a price of $118

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your train tickets from Chicago to Washington, DC, US, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $118 to $1,632 for a train ticket from Chicago to Washington, DC, US based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $118 which is on 2025-12-15.